Living With Thalassemia

If you have moderate or severe thalassemia, you need to take good care of your health. Some suggestions for living with thalassemia include:
 
  • Follow your treatment plan and see your doctor regularly for checkups and treatment.
  • If you have regular blood transfusions and iron chelation therapy, it is important to continue with treatment as recommended.
  • If you have regular blood transfusions, you should avoid taking vitamins or other supplements containing iron.
  • Maintain a healthy diet. Your doctor may also give you a folic acid (a B vitamin) supplement to take every day in order to help your body make new red blood cells.
  • Get a flu shot every year and the pneumococcal vaccine to prevent infections.
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD